Tokyo 2020 bronze medallist Bajrang Punia — spurred on by cries of “Bharat Mata ki jai” from a boisterous crowd — crushed Canada’s Lachlan McNeil 9-2 and defended his Commonwealth Games wrestling gold in the men’s freestyle 65kg category at the Coventry Arena on Friday.
Lachlan was put on the passivity clock and Bajrang effected a two-point takedown while using explosive strength to throw his opponent off balance. Pushing the Canadian outside the limits of the mat, Bajrang led 4-0 at the break.
